$5 Mil and Counting

I guess DC union thieves figured if they were going to steal, they might as well go all out.

An audit released last night alleges that more than $5 million was looted from the Washington Teachers' Union over the last seven years by union officials and others, an amount far greater than previous estimates of improper spending.

The audit, prepared by a private firm at the request of the union's parent, the American Federation of Teachers, said three former union officers -- president Barbara A. Bullock, her assistant Gwendolyn M. Hemphill and treasurer James O. Baxter II -- diverted the money to themselves, their relatives and others for personal benefit.

The report said that because many records are still missing, the total amount of money found to have been misappropriated is likely to grow "and this increase could be substantial.. ."

Among the improper expenditures were political contributions, according to the audit. In 2000, Bullock contributed $9,000 to the Democratic National Committee and $2,000 to Hillary Rodham Clinton's U.S. Senate campaign and charged the payments to the union's American Express account, the audit said, adding that those funds have since been returned to the AFT.

I really shouldn't be shocked.